ILOILO CITY: Three children died while their two siblings were hurt after a fire razed their house Wednesday night in a remote barangay of Maasin, Iloilo.
Maasin Fire Station arson investigator FO2 Remigio Peloquero Jr. said Arnel and Michelle Decir left their five minor children at their house in Sitio Araw-awon, Barangay Dalusan, to attend a wake when the fire erupted at past 10 p.m.
Peloquero said the fire was caused by a bonfire to drive away mosquitoes, adding that the house was made of light materials.
‘Our investigation is ongoing, but based on witnesses and relatives in the area, they had a bonfire to drive away the mosquitoes because Maasin also has cases of dengue,’ he said in an interview on Thursday.
Authorities identified the children who died from the fire as Ashley, 5; Arjon, 4; and Arjen, 1.
Rachel Ann, 12, and Arcel, 8, are now being treated at Western Visayas Medical Center for multiple burns.
The cost of damage was pegged at PHP22,750.
Source: Philippines News Agency
